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Jacob's approximation in flow through porous media

Journal Article · · Water Resour. Res.; (United States)
The equation of flow of slightly compressible fluids through nondeformable, or consolidating, porous media is a nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation of the second order. Previously, the equation has been approximately linearized by neglecting its nonlinear term. This method of linearization, hereafter called Jacob's method, was first introduced by C.E. Jacob for flow of ground water in confined aquifers. In this work the method of functional transformation was used to find a transformation which exactly linearized the equation. A problem of constant drawdown well in extensive homogeneous and isotropic consolidating, or nondeformable, porous media was solved. Solution of the approximate linearized differential equation for the problem was compared with the exact one, and the error due to the neglect of the nonlinear term was analyzed. It is shown that the error resulting from Jacob's approximate method of linearization for flow of water through confined aquifers is negligible. However, in the case of the transport of other compressible fluids through nondeformable formations the error is significant. 10 references.
OSTI ID:
6252458
Journal Information:
Water Resour. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Res.; (United States) Vol. 16:2; ISSN WRERA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English